2011 Tyre Triathlon: Swim, Bike and Run for Fun... and for a Good Cause

Lebanon is training hard for its third annual Triathlon to be held in the beautiful and ancient town of Tyr next Sunday, 22 May 2011. The event consists of a 750m swim in the sea followed by a 20km bike ride through the city and a 5 km run along the Corniche to the port of Tyr and back.

The race will start at 11.00 sharp on the beach, facing Tyros Restaurant on the Corniche. Over 185 athletes, more than twice as many as last year, will compete as individuals completing all three stages of the triathlon or as teams of three with each individual completing one of the stages. Competitors will be categorized into male and female groups and start times divided into waves for Elite, Amateur and Fun groups. Most of the competitors are Lebanese and foreigners resident in Lebanon but there will also be participants from UK, Columbia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Among the elite athletes competing will be Maxime Chaya, Roy Nasr and Anne Petersen from UAE.

Competitors have been encouraged to raise their own sponsor donations and there will be a prize for the highest sponsorship raised. All funds raised before the triathlon and during the afternoon party will be donated to the Lebanese Red Cross.

Many sponsors are generously supporting the event including Credit Libanais s.a.l., Red Bull Energy Drinks, Duty Free Beirut, Tannourine Water, Time Out, Beirut, Trek Bicycles, First Nutrition Energy Bars and the Greedy Goose Gastropub in Monot.

The Triathlon will be followed by a post race fiesta party starting at 2.00pm until midnight at the Al Fanar Restaurant on the Tyr seafront featuring a live band "Rabih and the Playmates" plus two international DJ's, The Hackney Globetrotter from London and DJ Arias from Colombia. Taste Culture will be serving a range of international cuisine throughout the afternoon.